Description
Delectable banana bread energy balls merge classic comfort with wholesome nutrition, offering a portable snack packed with natural sweetness. Rolled in chopped nuts and infused with cinnamon, these bite-sized treats provide quick energy and satisfy sweet cravings wherever you go.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup almond butter
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Optional Mix-ins:
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients and prepare a spacious mixing vessel for blending components thoroughly, ensuring smooth incorporation of each element.
- Mash ripe bananas to create a creamy base, then integrate oats, cottage cheese, and honey into a consistent mixture, stirring with a robust wooden spoon or spatula.
- Drizzle almond butter and vanilla extract into the blend, sprinkling cinnamon and salt to enhance flavor complexity and depth.
- Gently fold chopped walnuts and miniature chocolate chips into the mixture, distributing them evenly throughout the developing texture.
- Using clean hands, carefully portion the mixture into uniform spherical shapes, applying gentle pressure to compact ingredients and create cohesive energy balls.
- Transfer the newly formed orbs onto a parchment-lined tray, ensuring slight separation between each ball to prevent sticking.
- Place the tray in the refrigerator, allowing the energy balls to solidify and develop a firmer consistency for approximately 30 minutes.
- Once chilled, remove from refrigerator and serve immediately, or store in a sealed container within the refrigerator for optimal freshness and consumption within five days.
Notes
- Swap almond butter with sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version perfect for school lunches or allergy-sensitive diets.
- Roll energy balls in unsweetened shredded coconut or crushed graham crackers for extra texture and flavor complexity.
- Enhance protein content by adding a scoop of vanilla or banana-flavored protein powder during initial mixing for post-workout fuel.
- Freeze these energy balls for up to 3 months, creating convenient grab-and-go snacks that maintain their delicious texture and taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast
- Method: Rolling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 143
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg